Orthopedic al



(N0 mm.)

w, AUTENRIETHL. ORTHOPEDIGAL APPLIANCE.

Patented Jan. 12-, 18.97..

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

\YILLTAM AUTENRIETI-I, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

ORTHOPEDICAL APPLIANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 575,199, dated January12, 1897.

Application filed June 1, 1896. Serial No. 593,771. (No model.)

To all whom it Huey concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM AUTENRIETH, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, haveinvented a certain new and useful Orthopedical Appliance; and I dodeclare the following to be a clear, full, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, attention being called to theaccompanying drawings, with the reference-numerals marked thereon, whichform a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in orthopedical appliances andsimilar devices used for correction and cure of deformities in theextremities of the human body, particularly the legs thereof.

These appliances consist, substantially, of a strong frame, meanswhereby it is secured to the limb, and special means carried by thisframe and adapted to act in a manner which the particular kind ofdeformities require. Thus, for instance, for correction of bow-legsdevices would be carried by the main frame above and below the kneewhich act outwardly in a manner to straighten the member, as may bereadily understood. Since these deformities occur in great manyvariations and forms more or less complicated and in persons ofdifferent sizes and at different ages, it is necessary that specialdevices have to be mostly made to suit particular cases, and the samereason makes it impossible to provide in the following description forevery' contingency. In some cases the frame may extend over the entirelength of the limb or only over a part thereof. It may be articulatedwherever it passes over a joint to permit the exercise of the normalfunctions, that is, bending at hips, knee, and ankle, or it may be rigidat one or all of the joints to prevent the natural function of the limbwhere such is desirable or necessary.

For these reasons the invention is described as applied in a mannerwhich brings in all the features in a general way, so that by slightmodifications within the scope of the invcntion of any one, more, or allof these features any particular and special case may be suited.

One of these general features of my invention is the construction of themain frame and the joints by which its different sections connect, whichjoints are also adjustable in position, particularly the one at theknee, whereby changes of length in the upper or lower leg, as, forinstance, by growth in children, may be accommodated.

Another feature is a series of clamping de vices carried by the mainframe and adjustably connected thereto, which devices serve as a mediumto receive the straps, bandages, and other means whereby the applianceis secured in position, as well as those of such parts whereby, bypressure, tension, or otherwise, a special action and eifect upon thelimb are attained.

In the following specification, and particularly pointed out in theclaims, is found a full description of the invention, its application,parts, and construction, which latter is also illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows in a side elevation theappliance attached in position. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same.Fig. 3 is a top view of the upper end. Fig. 4: is a detail view of thelower or ankle joint and means for connecting the lower end of theappliance to the shoe. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the kneejoint of theappliance. section of the same. Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views ofclamping devices, which serve as a means for connection of the strapswhereby the appliance is attached and of other means acting in aparticular way, as the form of the disorder or disease may require. Fig.9 is a central section through the ankle-joint of the appliance.

In the drawings an appliance is illustrated which for the particularcase assumed is necessarily extended over the whole leg, and thereforeconsists of three sections, one for the foot, one for the lower leg, andone for the upper leg. To permit the leg to exercise its functions,these sections are connected by joints at ankle and knee, permittingfree movement thereat. This frame is constructed of wire members,preferably two, which, while suiiiciently strong, are much lighter andneater in appearance than the'old-fashioned flat iron bar.

Each section is preferably made of one piece of wire bent and doubled upto form the two Fig. 6 is a central members. The fulcrums or pivotalpoints about which the sections turn at the joints are located at thepoints where the wires are bent and at the turn between the two membersthereof. These joints or fulcrums consist, substantially, of flangedblocks or bosses and washers held together by screws in a manner topermit at least one if not the two frame-sections to turn. At theankle-joint the wire 17 of the lower leg-section passes around a boss 13and rests against a flange 14 thereof. It is held in place by a washer15, which is provided with a boss 16, around which the wire 12, whichforms the frame of the lowest or foot section, passes. The connection iscompleted by a top washer 18 and screw 19, which holds all partstogether.

The lower ends of wire 12 are bent and lie in grooves 21 of a plate 22,in which grooves they are held by a band 23, which passes over all andis held in place by a-screw 24.

25 is another plate extending out from plate 22 and is secured,preferably, by rivets to the sole of the shoe. The upper ends of wire 17support the parts which form the joint opposite the knee, which partsconsist, first, of a flanged boss 26, which is grooved or bored at 27 toreceive the upper ends of wires 17. Setscrews 28 hold this boss atproper height. In a recess at the outer edge of this boss and around aboss 29, formed thereby. lies the lower end of the frame-section for theupper leg, consisting, substantially, of a wire 31, doubled to form .thetwo members before mentioned. A top washer 32, held in place by a screw33, completes the joint.

It will be seen that since the distance between the ankle and knee jointis adjustable by reason of boss 26 being capable of moving up or down onwires 17 and held in any position thereon by set-screws 28 the positionof the knee-joint may be accurately adjusted to the particular person,and in children allowance may thereby be made for growth. Thispossibility to fit and adjust permits also within certain limits themaking up of these appliances in stock, doing away with special workmade to order for every case, thereby reducing the manufacturing costand resulting in cheaper work.

In addition to the connection to the shoe the appliance is held in placeby straps 34, one around the lower and one around the upper leg. If theappliance, for instance, would not extend above the knee, the latterstrap would be omitted or connected immediately below the knee. Inaddition to these straps braces 35 are used, also of wire, which help inholding the appliance more firmly in place and prevent it from shiftingits position. These braces are held in place on the main frame byclamping devices consisting substantially of two members or plates, one,36, below and another one, 37, above it, the two held together by ascrew 33, and whereby said braces are not only clamped tightly againstthe main frame, but the wires forming the latter, as well as the braces,are also held in their proper position with reference to each other. Oneor the two of these plates may be grooved for reception of the wires ofthe frames 17 31, as well as of the braces 35. (See Figs. 2 and 8.)

The top plate has preferably a boss 40, forming a shoulder which reachesbetween the upright wires and serves to hold them the proper distanceapart.

39 is a pad to cover the Wire braces. (Only shown in Figs. 1 and One endof each of the straps is secured to these pads, after which they arepassed one through a loop 41, forming a part of plate 37, and the otherthrough the loop formed by the wires of the braces.

It will at once be understood from the manner of their connection thatthe position of braces 35 and straps 34 is readily adjustable on thesections of the main frame. tional pads 42 are preferably provided underthe knee and ankle joints, which are stitched to flanges 43 on bosses 13and 26, respectively. No particular novelty is claimed for these padsand straps. The special devices which the treatment of the particularcase requires may be held in place by straps 44, which in turn are alsoconnected by clamping devices to the main-frame sections. These devicesconsist of two plates 45 and 46, which by means of a screw 47 areclamped against the members of the main frames with the wires 17 and 31thereof between them. Grooves may be provided in plates 45 and 46 forreception of the wires, as shown in Fig. 7, whereby also the position ofall the parts and distance of the wires is better maintained andtwisting of the plates prevented. One of these two latter, preferablythe upper one, is provided with loops 48 to permit connection of straps44. Any number of these clamping devices may be used to suit theexigencies of the case, and, being adjustable, they may be locatedwherever necessary.

In cases where it is desirable that the wearer be prevented from bendingthe knee the frame may be made stiff at the knee connection by a slidingcatch 49, supportcd on wires 31 and adapted to engage the upper ends ofwires 17.

Instead of having the frame-sections formed each of one piece of wirebent and doubled, as shown at 12, 17, and 31, two separate pieces ofwire might be used for each frame-section, and the ends of which piecesmight be secured in a manner as shown in Fig. 6, where wires 17pass-into openings in boss 26.

Having described my invention, I claim as new 1. In an orthopedicalappliance, the combination of a main frame formed of wire rods and insections corresponding with the parts of the leg, such sectionsarticulated in correspondence with the joints of the leg, the positionof the knee-joint being adjustable on the frame, means to hold theappliance in position and means whereby any special devices Addi- Awhich the cure of the particular disorder renation of a main frameformed in sections constructed of wires 12, 17 and 31, bent and.

doubled to form two members for eachsection, bosses at the turns of thewires and ad joining ends of the sections to form the pivotal points ofa flexible joint thereat, washers to hold the wires to the bosses at thejoints, and means to hold the appliance in position.

4. In an orthopedical appliance, the co1nbination of a main frame formedof wire rods and in sections corresponding with the parts of the limb,such sections articulated in correspondence with the joints of the limb,and clamping devices adapted to be connected to the wire members andadjustable in position thereon, to receive the means whereby theappliance is held in position, as well as those special devices whichthe cure of the particu lar case requires.

5. In an orthopedical appliance, the combination of a main frame insections, formed of wires 12, 17 and 31, bent and doubled to form twomembers for each section, bosses at the turns of the wires and adjoiningends of the sections to form the pivotal points of a flexible jointthereat, washers to hold the wires to the bosses at the joints andclamping devices adapted to be connected to the wire members andadjustable in position thereon to receive the means whereby theappliance is held in position, as well as those special devices whichthe cure of the particular case requires.

6. In an orthopedical appliance, the combination of a main frame, insections formed of wires bent and doubled to form two members or rodsfor each section, a foot-section 12, a plate 25 secured to theshoe-sole, an upright plate 22 grooved at its edges to receive themembers of wire 12, a sleeve 23 to hold the latter in place on plate 22and in the grooves thereat and clamping devices adapted to be connectedto the wire members and adjustable in position thereon, to receive themeans whereby the appliance is held in position, as well as thosespecial devices which the cure of the particular case requires.

7. In an orthopedical appliance, the combination of the main frame insections formed of wires bent and doubled to form two members or rodsfor each section, a foot-section 12 secured to the shoe, a section 17for the lower leg, a boss 13 which receives the wire of the lattersection, a flanged boss 16 which receives the lowest or foot section andat the same time holds section 17 in place, a top washer and screwconnection whereby the two bosses with the ends of the sections are heldtogether and clamping devices adapted to be connected to the wiremembers and adjustable in position thereon, to receive the means wherebythe appliance is held in position, as wellas those special devices whichthe cure of the particular case requires.

8. In an orthopedical appliance, the combination of the main frame insections formed of wires bent and doubled to form two members or rodsfor each section, a foot-section 12 secured to the shoe, a section 17for the lower leg, the two connected bya flexible joint, an upperleg-section formed by a wire 31,a boss 26 which receives the upper endof the lower legsection, a boss 29 which receives the lower end of theupper leg-section, the two bosses being connected to each other, one ofthe sections only being capable of turning on its boss while between theother section and its boss, a sliding movement is obtained for thepurpose of adjusting position of the joint, a top washer and screwconnection which completes the joint and clamping devices adapted to beconnected to the wire members and adjustable in position thereon, toreceive the means whereby the appliance is held in position as well asthose special devices which the cure of the particular case requires.

9. In an orthopedical appliance, the combination of a main frame insections formed of wires bent and doubled to form two members or rodsfor each section, the sections being connected by articulated joints andclamping devices consisting of top and bottom plates and a screwconnection whereby the two plates are held to each other and to thewires of the sections with the latter between them, one of the platesbeing provided with loops adapted to receive the straps whereby theappliance is held in place and the special devices which the cure of theparticular case requires.

10. In an orthopedical appliance, the combination of a main frame, insections formed of wires bent and doubled to form two members or rodsfor each section, the sections being connected by articulated joints,braces 35 also of wires and clamping devices to secure them to themain-frame sections and consisting of top and bottom plates witha screwconnection whereby the two plates are held to each other and to thewires of the sections with them and the wires forming the braces betweenthem and means whereby the special devices which the cure of theparticular case requires are secured to the main frame.

11. In an orthopedical appliance, the combination of a main frame insections formed of wires, the lower leg-section formed of a wire 17, theupperleg-section formed of a wire 31, each bent and doubled to form twomembers, a boss which receives the free ends of one section, theconnection being an adjustable one, the said boss also forming thepivotal support for the other section and constitutes the articulatedjoint, means like a screw-connected Washer whereby the parts Well asthose special devices which the cure of the latter are held together, asliding catch of the particular case requires. 1o 49 on the pivotedsection adapted to engage In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my withthe free ends of the Wires of the other signature in presence of twoWitnesses.

section and clamping devices adapted to be \VILLIAM AUTENRIETH.connected to the Wire members and adjust- Vitnesses:

able in position thereon, to receive the means H. DANGERS,

whereby the appliance is held in position, as O. SPENGEL.

